The 2025 NHL free agent period turned out to be more of a quiet affair than a frenzy. However, hockey fans hoping for more excitement might find it in the summer of 2026, which promises to be one of the biggest free agency classes in recent memory.
Leading up to July 1st this year, many top players who were expected to become available instead re-signed with their current teams. The Florida Panthers successfully managed to keep Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad.
John Tavares remained with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a contract favorable to the team. Matt Duchene and Brock Nelson also signed extensions, staying with the Dallas Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs, respectively. In the case of Brock Boeser, a skilled player briefly entered the market before changing his mind and re-signing with the Vancouver Canucks.
Mitch Marner, arguably the most prominent name in this year`s potential free agent group, was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights and signed a long-term deal before free agency officially opened.
All these moves resulted in a quiet start to NHL free agency this year. As of now, skilled forward Nikolaj Ehlers is one of the few significant players still available. Fans were left wanting more action, and the 2026 offseason might deliver.
Looking ahead to 2026 – and acknowledging that many key players will likely sign extensions before then – there is significant potential for July 1st to be a historic day for league transactions.
Superstar players such as Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Kirill Kaprizov are due for new contracts after the upcoming season, and that`s just a few of the potential big names.
| Player | Current team | Current salary |
|---|---|---|
| Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers | $12.5 million |
| Artemi Panarin | New York Rangers | $11.64 million |
| Sergei Bobrovsky | Florida Panthers | $10 million |
| Jack Eichel | Vegas Golden Knights | $10 million |
| Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | $9.5 million |
| Kirill Kaprizov | Minnesota Wild | $9 million |
| Cale Makar | Colorado Avalanche | $9 million |
| Anze Kopitar | Los Angeles Kings | $7 million |
| Adrian Kempe | Los Angeles Kings | $5.5 million |
After consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Final resulting in losses, does McDavid believe the Oilers have enough support for him and Leon Draisaitl to finally win a championship? Recurring issues like depth scoring and goaltending continue to hold Edmonton back in the playoffs.
Kaprizov presents another intriguing situation. The Minnesota Wild have not advanced past the first playoff round during his tenure with the team. Can Minnesota demonstrate their commitment to building a true Stanley Cup contender by acquiring a top center to play alongside the Russian playmaker?
Eichel appears less likely to actually become available, largely because he is in an excellent situation with the Golden Knights. Vegas is a consistent championship contender and just made another significant move by adding Marner.
Bobrovsky, a goalie with a history of playoff success, would attract considerable interest from teams needing help in net. Alex Ovechkin might retire, but if the Washington Capitals don`t succeed in 2025, he might consider seeking another chance at a Cup elsewhere. Los Angeles currently seems likely to regress, and if that happens, Adrian Kempe might look to bring his scoring talent to a different team.
This potential list doesn`t even include restricted free agents like Jason Robertson and Martin Necas, who are due for large contracts and have significant influence over their next team.
Perhaps the quiet free agency of 2025 will be worth it for a genuinely exciting period in 2026. That`s certainly what hockey fans are hoping for as they look forward to next summer.
